Removable dentures



May 20, 1958 1. J. PLOTNICK REMOVABLE DENTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1956 INVENTOR. //PW//Y J PZOT/V/CA BY ATTORNEY.

United States Patent REMOVABLE IDENTURES Irwin'J. Plotnick, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 26, 1956,-Serial No. 573,835

11 Claims. (Cl. 32-5) This invention :relates generally to dental appliances, and is particularly directed to improvements inremovable dentures or false teeth.

As is well known to those versed in the art, conventionalremovabledenturestendto cause wear onperrnanent teeth, and require supporting structure which detracts from aesthetic quality and causes discomfort to the wearer.

Accordingly, it is one object of the presentinvention to provide aremovable denture construction which-overcomes the above mentioned difficulties, 'is extremely comfortable in use, and causes no 'wear or damage "to the mouth, as it applies no force or'pressureagainst'the supporting teethor gums except during mastication, and thenonly a minimum of well-distributed pressure.

It'is another object of the presentinvention to provide animproved removable denture construction-having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, which is neat and cosmetic, wherein the supporting or positioning elements are substantially completely concealed, and which can be quickly and'easily removedfrom and accurately replaced in the mouthby the'wearer.

It is a further object of thepresent inventionto provide a removable denture device which is extremely simple, sturdy and durable in construction, capable of use in substantially-all circumstances requiring removable'dentures and which can be properly fit and manufactured at reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present .inventionwill become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists .in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of'parts,'which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of'whichthe scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view showing a removable denture'of the present-invention in position with in the wearers mouth;

FigureZ'is a sectional elevational view similar to Figurel, but showing a slightly modified removable denture of'the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view showing in greater detail .one element of the removable denture of either Figure l or Figure 2',

.Figure 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is .a transverse sectional view 'takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of'Figure 1',

Figure 6 isasectionalview similar to Figure 5, but showing 'the denture incondition for'removal from or replacement in' the wearer s mouth;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the'line 7--7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is anexplodecl, perspective :view showing-the 2,835,034 Patented May 20, 1958 "ice and

'Figure 9'is a bottom view showing an element of the removable-denture, apart therefrom.

Referring'nowmore particularly to the drawings, .and

specifically'to Figure 1 thereof, a removable denture is generally designated 10, and illustrated as supported 'on an edentulous area of a wearers gum 11 between a pair of naturalor otherwise permanently fixed teeth 12 and 13. That is, tbeteeth 12 and 13 are permanently fixed relative to the gum 11 and spaced apart from each other to' be'located on opposite sides of the denture 10.

The denture 1'0 includesa base or saddle 15'having its under surface shaped to rest conformably on the gum '1'1, and may be cast or molded of plastic, or other suitable'material. Fixedly secured on the base 15 is a hollow body or housing "'16, which supports a retaining element 17 for laterally extensile and retractile movement into and out of conforming engagement with the contiguous undercut surface portion 18 of the adjacent permanent tooth "12. A false or artificial tooth, jacket or crown 20 is arranged over the housing 16, preferably seated on the base 15, and operatively connected to the housing for generally vertical movement relative to the base, as will 'appear'hereinafter in greater detail.

A'laterally extending elongate holding member orocclusal rest 24 is fixed relative to the base 15, say by having its inner end portion secured to the bridge of an upstanding arch 25 (see Figure 8) which is fixed to or formed integrally with the base and embraces one end portion of theihousing 16. The occlusal rest extends from the arch upwards and laterally outwards, terminating in a laterally outward end portion 26 adapted .to conformably rest'on the upwardly facing or occlusal surfaceportion 27 of the permanent tooth 12. As best seen in Figure 8, the upstanding side pieces or legs of the arch 25 are formed with a pair of generally vertical, facing grooves 28, 28, which open at.their upper ends and toward .each .other throughout their vertical extent. Stated otherwise, the grooves 23 each combine with the adjacent side of the housing 16 to define an upwardly open passageway.

Extending laterally outwards from the other side of the base 15 (the left side as seen in Figure 1), and fixedly secured tothe base, is a retaining element 3.0 shaped for-conforming engagernent with the contiguous undercut surface portion 3.1 of the adjacent permanent tooth 13. The fixed retaining element 30 may. also be fabricated of plastic or other suitable material, and formed integrally with the base 15. An abutment or buttresstmember 32 (see Figures 7 and 8) extends upward from the base .15'in the region of the retaining element 30 and is in abutting engagement with the adjacent .end of .the housing 16. Further, v.the buttress 32is.forrned with a pair ofgenerally'vertical recesses 36, 36 which face towardoand combine with the adjacent end surface of the housing l6to define a pair of generally vertically .disposed, opposedtgrooves or passageways opening upwards and .outwards,.for a .purpose appearing presently.

.Anocclusal rest or holding member 33 is defined by an .upward extension of the retaining element 30 and buttress 32 between the teeth 20 and 13, and hasits distal .end portion 34 extending laterally outwards away from the -artificialtooth and shaped for conforming engagement with the upwardly facing, occlusal surface 35 of the permanent tooth 13.

Itwill-nowbe apparent that the outer or distal end portions .26 :and 340i the holding members 24 and 33, respectively,aare:eugageable withthe upwardly facing surfaces 27 and '35;Of the permanent teeth 12 and 13 to prevent both lateral movement of the denture 10 between the permanent teeth, and also movement of the denture 10 toward the gum 11. This, of course, prevents movement of the base 15 against the gum. It will also be appreciated that the movable retaining element 17 and fixed retaining element 30 are conformably engageable with the undercut permanent tooth surface portions 18 and 31, respectively, to prevent movement of the denture, and hence of the base 15, away from the gum 11. The denture 10 is therefor supported in position without the use of stressed resilient members, so that only the negligible weight of the denture, need be supported, and movement of the denture is effectively resisted even during mastication. Viewed otherwise, the denture 10 is supported in position by the rest member extensions 26 and 34 resting lightly on the permanent teeth 12 and 13, without appreciable bearing pressure against either the supporting teeth or gum. Conversely, a similar denture mounted on the upper gum of the wearer would rest lightly on the adjacent undercut surfaces of the supporting teeth.

As will appear presently in greater detail, the extensile and retractile retaining element 17 may be locked in its extended position of Figure l to prevent withdrawal of the denture. However, removal of the denture may be quickly and easily accomplished by merely retracting the retaining element 17 laterally inwards away from the tooth 12, and moving the denture away from the gum, out of the space between the permanent teeth, there being suflicient clearance between the denture and permanent teeth to allow the retaining element 30 to clear the tooth 13.

The housing 16 is best shown in Figures 3 and 4 as a block or body having an internal hollow or bore 38 extending generally horizontally inwards through one end 39 of the body and terminating short of the other body end 40. A vertically disposed hole or bore 41 extends downwards through the upper surface 42 of the body 16 and opens into the bore 38 adjacent to but spaced from the closed end of the latter. Opening upwards through the undersurface 43 of the body 16, and into the bore 38 substantially directly below the hole 41, is a hole 44. The upper body surface 42 is further formed with a pair of upwardly opening, aligned grooves 46, 46 extending radially from the bore 41.

The housing 16 is of generally rectangular external configuration, the end walls 39 and 40 being in parallelism, the front and back walls 47 and 48 being in parallelism, and the top wall 42 being at 90 to the front, back and end walls. However, the bottom wall 43 is at a slight angle, say with respect to the top wall 42, so as to define approximately a 95 angle with the end wall 40 and an 85 angle with the end wall 39. Further, the housing 16 is secured on the base 15 with its bottom wall 43 approximately horizontal, as seen in Figure 1, so that the end walls 30 and 40, top wall 42, and bores 38 and 41 are all inclined.

The extensile and retractile retaining element 17 includes an elongate slide member or bolt 49 slidably received in the bore 38. The elongate slide or bolt 49 has its inner end portion beveled to define an inclined surface 50 facing upwards and towards the closed end 40 'of the housing 16. Stated otherwise, the inner end portion 51 of the bolt 49 tapers to the inner bolt end surface 52, the taper being defined by the inwardly declining upper bolt surface 50.

The under surface of the bolt or slide 49 is formed with a recess 53, while the outer bolt end portion is provided with a socket 54 opening through the outer bolt end surface 55.

The retaining element 17 also includes a laterally outwardly facing, arcuate member or yoke 58 carried on one end of a shank 59 which has its other end received and secured in the socket 54 of the slide 49. A stop member or pin 60 is fixedly housing 15 and partially received in the slide recess 53 secured interiorly of the 4 to limit outward shifting movement of the slide. That is, the stop 60 is engageable with inner end surface of the recess 53 to limit extensile movement of the slide, while the rear end slide surface 52 is engageable with the inner end of the bore 38 to limit retractile slide movement.

Slidably received in the upwardly opening housing hole 41 is a plunger or block 63. The plunger 63 has its lower end portion received in the inner end portion of the hollow or bore 38 and is formed with a shoulder 64 engageable with the internal surface of the bore to prevent upward withdrawal of the plunger from the housing. A diametral through bore 65 is formed in the plunger 63 adjacent to its upper end, and is adapted to receive a pin 66 which extends through and beyond opposite sides of the plunger. The lower or inner end surface 67 of the plunger 63 is generally horizontal, but is formed with an upwardly inclined or beveled forward portion 68 shaped for surface engagement with the inclined slide surface 50.

As best seen in Figure 3, downward movement of the plunger 63 will, by sliding engagement of the inclined lower plunger surface 68 and inclined upper slide surface 50, effect outward or extensile shifting of the slide. Upon continued downward plunger movement, the slide is shifted outwards until the stop 60 engages with the inner end surface of the slide recess 53, at which time the plunger surface 68 rides off of the slide surface 50, and the vertical plunger surface engages with the vertical inner end surface 52 of the slide 49. Continued downward movement of the plunger 63 is prevented by engagement of the pin 66 in the grooves 46, so that the plunger is supported in its lowermost position and abuts against the inner end of the slide 49 to lock the latter in its extreme extended position, as shown in dot-and-dash outline. Of course, elevation of the plunger 63 will allow the slide 49 to be retracted into the housing 16 to the solid line position of Figure 3.

Arranged astride the housing 16, between the arch 25 and buttress 32, is an inverted generally U-shaped cap or connecting member 70, best seen in Figures 8 and 9. The connecting member 70 includes an upper portion or top wall 71 arranged over the upper housing surface 42 and conformably receiving the upper end portion of plun er 63. Depending from opposite sides of the top portion 71, slidably along opposite sides 47 and 48 of the housing 16, are a pair of spaced side walls or legs 72, 72. Formed in the upper regions of the connector member side walls 72 are a pair of aligned apertures 73; and, a pair of laterally spaced, resilient prongs 74, 74 depend from the connector member top wall 71 each adjacent to one side wall 72 for frictional sliding engagement in a respective passageway 28. Remote from the prongs 74, each connector member side wall 72 is formed with an in-turned, generally vertically extending rib or lip 75 for vertical sliding engagement in a respective groove 36.

The artificial tooth 20 is snugly engaged over the connector member 70, see Figures 5. and 6, and the pin 66 extends through the plunger 63 and connector member opening 73 into the artificial tooth, so that the latter is substantially rigidly connected to the plunger. Removal of the pin from its embedded relation in the artificial tooth is prevented by a filling or plug 76 provided in the tooth adjacent to one end of the pin.

Thus, the artificial tooth 20 is rigidly connected to the plunger 63 and movable with the latter along its slightly off vertical axis. Similarly, the prongs 74 and ribs 75 are movable in their respective passageways in parallelism with the plunger 63. However, the prongs 74 are somewhat resilient and engage in the passageways 28 with sufficient frictional froce to prevent inadvertent movement of the connector member 70, and hence of the tooth 20, relative to the housing 16 and base 15.

When it is desired to remove the entire denture 10 from between the permanent teeth 12 and 13, this may be readily accomplished by mere vertical withdrawal of the artificial tooth 20 away from the base 15 against the holding force of the prongs 74. The plunger 63 is thus elevated to permit retraction of the retaining element 17 toward thehousing, out of engagement with the adjacent undercut tooth portion 18. The base 15,'1housing 16, retaining elements 17 and 30, and rest members '24 and 33 may then be withdrawn, as a unit, from between the permanent teeth 12 and 13, as describedhereinbefore. Of course, the denture '10 may be properly and accuratelyreplaced by mere reversal of this procedure.

As the movement of plunger 63, andhenceof artificial tooth 20, are not directly vertical, but at a slight angle to the vertical, normal chewing forces tending to raise the artificial tooth, say when the wearer is "eating sticky foods, will be insufiicient to move the tooth 20 away from the base 15.

A slightly modified removable denture'10a of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 2, and'may be desirable under certain conditions, say when there is only one permanent'tooth adjacent to the denture, ;or fthere is indication that the permanent tooth orteeth may drift in the dental arch. Thus, a single permanent tooth 12a is provided in its upwardly facing or occlusal surface 27a with a permanent inlay 80 having an upwardly opening bore 81 inclined at a slight angle from'the vertical toward the removable denture.

The denture a includes a base 15a which corresponds to the base 15 of Figure 1 and supports a housing 16a substantially identical to the housing 16 described in detail hereinbefore. A retaining element -17a, corresponding to the first described retaining element 17, is laterally extensible from and retractible in the 'housing 16a for movement into and out of conforming engagement with the contiguous undercut surface portion 18a of the tooth 12a.

An elongate holding-memberor 'occlusalmest 2'4a has one end portion secured to or integral with a bridge 25a extending over thehousing "16a and fixed-tothebase 15a. The other end portion26a of therestZKla-extends laterally outwards and in overlying engagement withthe ,upper surface27a and inlay 70 of the tooth 12a. A holding extension or pin 82, or other suitable connection means, extends substantially rigidly from the rest member end portion 26a at a slight angle to the vertical and is slidably received in the inlay bore 81. A saddle-like connector member 70a, corresponding to the connector 70 of the first described form of the present invention, straddles the housing 16a and is pinned to the plunger 63a and artificial tooth a, in substantially the same manner as the embodiment of Figure 1, to rigidly connect the artificial tooth to the plunger for substantially vertical movement therewith relative to the housing 16a.

As the denture 10a is connected to a permanent tooth on only one side, the retaining element 30 and occlusal rest 33 of Figure 1 are eliminated, and the tooth 20:: may substantially cover the unconnected side of the base.

It will now be apparent that the denture 10a is restrained against lateral movement in all directions by engagement of the pin 82 in the inlay 80, and further restrained against movement toward tooth 12a by the element 17a. Downward movement of the denture 10a toward the gum 11a is prevented by engagement of the rest member 24a with the upper surface of the permanent tooth, and by engagement of the base 15a with the wearers gum. The angle of pin 82 and bore 81 from the vertical is different than and preferably in the opposite direction from thatof the plunger 63a, so that upward denture movement, requiring upward movement of the extension pins 82, is restrained by engagement of the retaining element 17a with the undercut permanent tooth surface 18a. Hence, the denture 10a is firmly secured in position without undue bearing engagement against the supporting tooth or gum, and affords substantially the same advantageous features noted hereinbefore in connection with the denture of Figure 1. Of course,

removal and replacement of the denture 10a may be accurately and properly accomplished by upward .shifting movement ofthe plunger 63a along withthe artificial tooth'20a to allow retraction of the retainingelement'17a toward thehousing 16a. 'With'theretaining element 17a sufficiently retracted, complete withdrawal or replacement of the denture, as desired, maybe effected along a path of movement parallel to the pin 82.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a removable denture construction which fully accomplishes itsintended objects, .and is well adaptved to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present inventionhas been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding,'it is understoodthat certain changes and modificationsmay be made within'the spirit of the invention and'scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a removable denture construction, a base adapted to rest conformably on'the gum of a wearer in adjacent relation with at least one permanent tooth, at least one false tooth secured on said base along side of said permanenttooth, holding means secured to said base and extending laterally outward therefrom for engagement with said permanent tooth to prevent movement of said base against said gum, a laterally extensile and retractile retaining element mounted on said base formovement into and outof engagement'with the'adjacent undercut surface of'said permanenttooth to releasably retain said base in position'on said gum, and means for releasably locking said retaining element in engagement with the undercut surface of said permanent'tooth to prevent inadvertentretractionof said retaining element andmovement of said base away from sai'dgum.

2. A removable denture construction according to claim 1, said retaining element including a yoke-shaped portion "adapted for partial engagement aboutsaid permanent tooth.

3. A removable denture construction according to claim 1, said holding means comprising a rest member adapted;to. overliesaidpermanent tooth, to,limit bearing pressure of said base against said gum.

4. In a removable denture construction, a base adapted to rest conformably on the gum of a wearer in adjacent relation with at least one permanent tooth, at least one false tooth secured on said base along side of said permanent tooth, holding means secured to said base and extending laterally outward therefrom for engagement with said permanent tooth to prevent movement of said base against said gum, a laterally extensile and retractile retaining element mounted on said base for movement into and out of engagement with the adjacent undercut surface of said permanent tooth to releasably retain said base in position on said gum, a housing fixedly secured on said base and supporting said retaining element for its extensile and retractile movement, and a plunger mounted in said housing for reciprocatory movement transversely of said extensile and retractile retaining element movements and selectively engageable with said retaining element when the latter is extended to prevent retraction thereof.

5. In a removable denture construction, a base adapted to rest conformably on the gum of a wearer in the space between a pair of permanent teeth, at least one false tooth secured on said base along side of said permanent teeth, holding means secured to said base and extending laterally in opposite directions for connection to said per other of said permanent teeth to releasably retain, said base in position on said gum, and means for releasably locking said extensile and retractile retaining element in engagement with the undercut surface of said permanent tooth to prevent inadvertent retraction of said retaining element and movement of said base away from said gum.

6. A removable denture according to claim 5, said holding means comprising a pair of laterally extending rest members each adapted to firmly overlie a respective one of said permanent teeth to limit bearing pressure of said base against said gum.

7. In a removable denture construction, a base adapted to rest conformably on the gum of a wearer in the space between a pair of permanent teeth, at least one false tooth secured on said base along side of said permanent teeth, holding means secured to said base and extending laterally in opposite directions for connection to said permanent teeth to prevent movement of said base against said gum, a fixed retaining element carried on one side of said base for conforming engagement with the undercut surface of one of said permanent teeth, a laterally extensile and retractile retaining element mounted on the other side of said base for movement into and out of conforming engagement with the undercut surface of the other of said permanent teeth to releasably retain said base in position on said gum, and a housing fixed on said base and supporting said last mentioned retaining element for its extensile and retractile movement, and a plunger mounted in said housing for reciprocatory movement transversely of said last mentioned retaining element and shaped for selective engagement with said last mentioned retaining element when the latter is extended to prevent retraction thereof.

8. A releasable holding device for a removable denture comprising a hollow housing, a retaining element mounted in the hollow of said housing for extensile and retractile movement relative to said housing, stop means limiting the extension of said retaining element, and a 8 plunger slidably mounted in said housing for movement in the hollow thereof transversely of said retaining element, said plunger being shaped for abutting engagement with said retaining element to releasably lock the latter in its limiting extended position.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said retaining element and plunger are formed with mutually slidable surfaces disposed oblique to the directions of movement of said plunger and retaining element, so that said retaining element and plunger are each movable upon actuation of the other.

10. In a removable denture, a base adapted to rest conformably on the gum of a wearer in adjacent relation with at least one permanent tooth, a housing fixedly secured on said base, a retaining element mounted in said housing for laterally extensile and retractile movement into and out of engagement with the adjacent undercut surface of said permanent tooth, holding means secured to said base and extending laterally outward therefrom for engagement with the oeclusal surface of said permanent tooth, a plunger mounted in said housing for up and down shifting movement to enable retraction and extension, respectively, of said retaining element, a false tooth arranged over said plunger and housing, and means rigidly connecting said false tooth to said plunger for movement with the latter to enable extension and retraction of said retaining element upon up and down movement A of said false tooth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,480 Weissman June 5, 1956 

